He now joins the likes of Adele, Ellie Goulding and last year's winner Sam Smith by receiving the accolade, with Bay stating: "I'm pretty speechless. After all the years I've spent watching the BRITs and even after this year; watching my fan base grow so much, I never thought I'd actually be getting an award myself.

"And what a huge honour to be following the incredible artists who've won before! I'm really chuffed, thank you to everyone who has supported me."

James will be presented with his trophy during The BRITs Are Coming nominations show on Thursday, January 15.

View the lyrics

Tried to keep you close to meBut life got inbetweenTried to square not being thereBut think that I should have been

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyesHold back the river, so IStop for a minute and see where you hideHold back the river, hold back

Once upon a different lifeWe rode our bikes into the skyBut now we crawl against the timeThose distant days are flashing by

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyesHold back the river, so IStop for a minute and be by your sideHold back the river, hold back

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyesHold back the river so IStop for a minute and see where you hideHold back the river, hold back

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ohOh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Lonely water, lonely waterWon't you let us wonderLet us hold each otherLonely water, lonely waterWon't you let us wonderLet us hold each other

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyesHold back the river, so IStop for a minute and be by your sideHold back the river, hold back

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyesHold back the river, so IStop for a minute and be by your sideHold back the river, ohLonely water, lonely waterWon't you let us wanderLet us hold each otherLonely water, lonely waterWon't you let us wanderLet us hold each other